We come into this world with nothing... It's amazing how much stuff most of us obtain, but leave behind. Just as we came we also leave, empty handed.
I've seen it, families fighting and squabbling over their Grandmother's collectibles; recipes, blankets she knit, furniture. Is all that stuff really important? Did those things make up your Grandmother? Were those things "who she was?" Absolutely not!
Sure, when my Grandma passed away, There were some things that I felt a connection to. Or a fond memory was attached to one thing or another. But I did not "need" those things to remember her, or the memories connected to the stuff. Stuff is nice, although it isn't that important. Our Heavenly Father will provide all that we need.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
A little yet big piece of information about stuff... It isn't permanent. Much like this life here, it doesn't last forever. Our treasure isn't here anyway.
"For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." Matthew 6:21
Have in your possession what you need but it isn't necessary to have much more. This thought makes me think of the parable of the talents, located in Matthew 25:14-30. But there is a part that stands out the most pertaining to what I am getting at.
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." Matthew 25:21
"For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Matthew 25:29
Interpret this both how you will. But think of how tightly some people clutch onto their things... Keeping all of their riches to themselves, not sharing their wealth or not doing the right things with it. Whether it be in this life or not, they will not have what they once saw as theirs.
So the things we are responsible for while we are here, should be well taken care of. When we have an abundance we should give to those in need with a whole heart. So, whoever has (and will give freely) will be given more. This is what we are meant to do, with what we have. Not store it up as if there is a shortage.
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26
One last point on what Jesus said and observed.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offering were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people thew in large amounts. But a poor widow cane and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said,
" I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on." Matthew 12:41-44
We don't have to wait until the holidays to give. Or stick to the same amount for tithing every week. Give until you're uncomfortable! How can you expect God to bless YOU when you're not stretching your arms as far as you can? Or when you're not giving uncomfortably and giving from the out-pour of your heart? And I say uncomfortably blessing others or loving others, Because, how many people are comfortable with outwardly loving complete strangers? Am I right? It's tough... Most people's minds would immediately flood with a thousand what ifs. What if I can't pay my own bills? What if I get robbed? Or lied to? Or, Or, Or.......
Let go of the fear. Trust God. And give! He'll let you know what you CAN do. Or what He wants you to do. Say yes, you won't regret it. He will continue to provide all that YOU need!
p.s. Be daring, pray for the things you may desire, but for others. Trust that you will have all that you need, pray for others who are less fortunate than you.
God bless!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Anything at all
I smile upon your sleeping face.
Sweep the little bit of hair resting on your brow.
Sign a cross for protection on your forehead.
Whisper I love you, softly into your ear.
You smile.
Your feverish little eyes open.
Awake just enough to whisper “Mama.”
I can’t help but smile back at you.
Knowing all the late hours;
Few breaks
And skipped meals
Will all be worth seeing my little angel healthy again.
Just to see your smile
Means more to me than anything in this world.
I know that when you reach out-
To touch my hand
What it is-
That defines love.
Copy written 2008.
Did I sign up for this?
Life... What a concept. Both a blessing and at some times more of a burden. All of this wouldn't be called life if it were easy. What makes life so difficult? Hating your job; your car is broken, your kids are too much to handle sometimes, your wife/husband isn't giving you what you need, you chase after the things you can't have or the things that you shouldn't... Money is a huge thorn in a human's side!
So, Life, your burden... What do you do with it? Worry? Turn into a workaholic? An alcoholic?
Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
I know most of us are hands on and want to have "control" over everything that happens in our lives. But the reality is folks, you don't know what is going to happen to you when you set foot out that door tomorrow. It's just the truth. I don't know what is going to happen 5 minutes from now, I could get a life changing phone call. I don't know.
So, my prayer is that we can all rest easy in the hands of God, knowing He has it all under control. Life might not make much sense to you right now. All of this may look like chaos, but His ways are not ours.
Worry- now thats a tough one. It doesn't add a single year to your life- it actually slowly subtracts them.
Jesus says about worry: "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27
The one I believe most painful to your self and to those who love you, drunkenness. Drunkenness is mentioned and eluded to many, many times in the Word. Here are a few that make a good enough point.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery." Ephesians 5:18
" Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." Proverbs 23:20-21
When we turn to Christ and lay our burdens down on Him, It will then be His weight to carry. It is no longer ours. Pray for His strength, His peace and comfort. Don't turn to something "of this world" it's no use. It's all only temporary. Here today gone tomorrow. "All come from dust, and to dust all return." Ecclesiastes 3:20
It takes time and a lot of discipline to immediately turn to Christ and rely on Him. He won't let you down- He can't, it's impossible. Remember, you're never alone. He's always right there walking beside you and sometimes carrying you, though you may not always know it.
So, Life, your burden... What do you do with it? Worry? Turn into a workaholic? An alcoholic?
Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
I know most of us are hands on and want to have "control" over everything that happens in our lives. But the reality is folks, you don't know what is going to happen to you when you set foot out that door tomorrow. It's just the truth. I don't know what is going to happen 5 minutes from now, I could get a life changing phone call. I don't know.
So, my prayer is that we can all rest easy in the hands of God, knowing He has it all under control. Life might not make much sense to you right now. All of this may look like chaos, but His ways are not ours.
Worry- now thats a tough one. It doesn't add a single year to your life- it actually slowly subtracts them.
Jesus says about worry: "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important that food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27
The one I believe most painful to your self and to those who love you, drunkenness. Drunkenness is mentioned and eluded to many, many times in the Word. Here are a few that make a good enough point.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery." Ephesians 5:18
" Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." Proverbs 23:20-21
When we turn to Christ and lay our burdens down on Him, It will then be His weight to carry. It is no longer ours. Pray for His strength, His peace and comfort. Don't turn to something "of this world" it's no use. It's all only temporary. Here today gone tomorrow. "All come from dust, and to dust all return." Ecclesiastes 3:20
It takes time and a lot of discipline to immediately turn to Christ and rely on Him. He won't let you down- He can't, it's impossible. Remember, you're never alone. He's always right there walking beside you and sometimes carrying you, though you may not always know it.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Children and Love
My daughter is almost 5... Her constant concern usually seems to be peace. She is always asking if I'm having a good time. Or if my husband is having a good time. She tells us she loves us, constantly. Or she compliments us on something we are wearing or my earrings or my hair or necklace etc. It's amazing to me how children think! I am loved; get showered with compliments and apparently I am somebody she really wants to spend every waking hour with- being loving!
Which leads me to believe our most natural state is Love. Yes, I know we are all sinners. But, Love is what you need to abide by!
".....Love your enemies and pray" Matthew 5:44
".....And Love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 19:19
".....Love the Lord your God" Matthew 22:37
".....Rather, Serve one another in Love" Galatians 5:15
My personal favorites that sum up Love.
"But the fruit of the spirit is Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Or commonly heard read during weddings,
"Love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrings. love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
How much more clear does Jesus need to make it for us? Now I know this sounds like a long shot and we've all got our battle scars from this tough existence we call life but... What is the harm in Loving instead of replying with distaste?
All of these technological devices we have, they all have a default setting or a reset button, right? I think we do too. His name is Jesus. He will just get right in there and take over and set us straight. Get us back to our default setting. It might take some time but if we put our faith in Him, all things are possible.
How?
" I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18: 3-5
Our children are being corrupted by the things we do, the things we say, the way we act. If, we are not living a righteous lifestyle. There are things we now, as adults look back at in our childhoods and wish we had never seen or heard, right? You as an adult or parent can make that difference now. By teaching your children to take all that love that they already have and multiply it with the power of Jesus! Jesus felt very strongly about the proper treatment and shaping of little children.
" But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in m to sin, if would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6
I guess, to some degree what I am saying is- pay close attention to your child. Notice what his or her motivating emotion is while interacting with you or your family. Is it love? Children speak the language of love better than most of us do. And I have to give credit to our little persons for doing something some adults aren't yet capable of doing!
Life is a long (yet short) learning process. We are always learning, growing, expanding and seeking. If we make the conscious effort to make the right choices and guide our little ones to make the right choices we could possibly help them avoid the kind of battle scars we are plagued with.
-God bless
Which leads me to believe our most natural state is Love. Yes, I know we are all sinners. But, Love is what you need to abide by!
".....Love your enemies and pray" Matthew 5:44
".....And Love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 19:19
".....Love the Lord your God" Matthew 22:37
".....Rather, Serve one another in Love" Galatians 5:15
My personal favorites that sum up Love.
"But the fruit of the spirit is Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Or commonly heard read during weddings,
"Love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrings. love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
How much more clear does Jesus need to make it for us? Now I know this sounds like a long shot and we've all got our battle scars from this tough existence we call life but... What is the harm in Loving instead of replying with distaste?
All of these technological devices we have, they all have a default setting or a reset button, right? I think we do too. His name is Jesus. He will just get right in there and take over and set us straight. Get us back to our default setting. It might take some time but if we put our faith in Him, all things are possible.
How?
" I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18: 3-5
Our children are being corrupted by the things we do, the things we say, the way we act. If, we are not living a righteous lifestyle. There are things we now, as adults look back at in our childhoods and wish we had never seen or heard, right? You as an adult or parent can make that difference now. By teaching your children to take all that love that they already have and multiply it with the power of Jesus! Jesus felt very strongly about the proper treatment and shaping of little children.
" But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in m to sin, if would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6
I guess, to some degree what I am saying is- pay close attention to your child. Notice what his or her motivating emotion is while interacting with you or your family. Is it love? Children speak the language of love better than most of us do. And I have to give credit to our little persons for doing something some adults aren't yet capable of doing!
Life is a long (yet short) learning process. We are always learning, growing, expanding and seeking. If we make the conscious effort to make the right choices and guide our little ones to make the right choices we could possibly help them avoid the kind of battle scars we are plagued with.
-God bless
Thursday, November 10, 2011
So... What do we do now?
I haven't had a blog in a quite some time. I guess I got away from it, not because I had nothing to say but just because I wasn't sure if anyone heard me. There's a difference between reading something and reading something and it becoming a part of you. As alive as you and I are right now! Of course, It makes me think Of some of the words Jesus spoke. "He who has ears, let him hear." Matthew 11:15
Have you even let something you read or heard change you? For the better? For worse?
We do it to ourselves every single day. We seem to hypnotize ourselves with positive thoughts or negative ones. When you go through your day, do you notice the people who are having a bad day? And then think, gosh, I'm glad I'm not him or her... Or the people who are having a good day. Their day is going so good, when you're having a bad day that you just want them to shut up or go away right? C'mon now, be honest here... We're human and that's where grace comes in and thank God for that! Love... Love is the answer to all that ails you.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be JOYFUL in hope, Patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:9-13
I read a lot, many different books. Mostly Christian literature... There is no other better cure for a bad day than reading the bible.
There was one day that I was having a bad day! My back ached, it was cold outside, I had a raging headache... I was just kind of feeling unlovable. I didn't want to be around me, I was crabby! I sat and read for 2 hours, through the prophets and through some of my favorites.
I landed on Psalm 139.
"Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." Psalm 139:1-4
After reading all of Psalm 139 again a few times over, I realized that He loves me anyway! No matter how crummy I might feel. Or how hurt or scared or ugly I feel today. He is my rock, He is my sunshine, my strength and my shelter! Psalm 139 was something I have read many times, but each time, still, it changes me. But the trick is, you have to let it. Just like they say- Let go and let God. It's true. Let Him change you. Your heart. Your perceptions of this world and the people around you. Be healed! Let the healing waters contained in the Bible wash over you. Let Jesus be your savior! What do you have to lose? You have all the more to gain. Growth and wisdom. A new heart. A life after this place. And some one to weather life's storms with you- Jesus!
-God bless
Have you even let something you read or heard change you? For the better? For worse?
We do it to ourselves every single day. We seem to hypnotize ourselves with positive thoughts or negative ones. When you go through your day, do you notice the people who are having a bad day? And then think, gosh, I'm glad I'm not him or her... Or the people who are having a good day. Their day is going so good, when you're having a bad day that you just want them to shut up or go away right? C'mon now, be honest here... We're human and that's where grace comes in and thank God for that! Love... Love is the answer to all that ails you.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be JOYFUL in hope, Patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:9-13
I read a lot, many different books. Mostly Christian literature... There is no other better cure for a bad day than reading the bible.
There was one day that I was having a bad day! My back ached, it was cold outside, I had a raging headache... I was just kind of feeling unlovable. I didn't want to be around me, I was crabby! I sat and read for 2 hours, through the prophets and through some of my favorites.
I landed on Psalm 139.
"Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." Psalm 139:1-4
After reading all of Psalm 139 again a few times over, I realized that He loves me anyway! No matter how crummy I might feel. Or how hurt or scared or ugly I feel today. He is my rock, He is my sunshine, my strength and my shelter! Psalm 139 was something I have read many times, but each time, still, it changes me. But the trick is, you have to let it. Just like they say- Let go and let God. It's true. Let Him change you. Your heart. Your perceptions of this world and the people around you. Be healed! Let the healing waters contained in the Bible wash over you. Let Jesus be your savior! What do you have to lose? You have all the more to gain. Growth and wisdom. A new heart. A life after this place. And some one to weather life's storms with you- Jesus!
-God bless
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